22 September,2016 07:00 AM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has had run-ins with several cricketers, both on and off the field -- with his teammates and opponents alike. So, who is the most hated cricketer in his books? Find out...
Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir get into a heated verbal exchange after crashing into each other during the ODI at the Green Park in Kanpur in 2007. Pic/MiD-DAY Archives
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is a controversial figure in the world of cricket. He has had run-ins with several cricketers, both on and off the field -- with his teammates and opponents alike. So, it's not easy to guess who is the most hated cricketer in the leggie's books.
During a chat session with fans on a social media platform, Afridi revealed that the player he hated the most was India discard Gautam Gambhir. The Pakistani cricketer added that he would never be friends with Gambhir. Of course, all this happened in 2013.
On being asked if he would ever becomes friends with Gambhir, Afridi replied in the negative.
The duo's dislike for each other seems to have started in 2007, during Pakistan's tour of India in Kanpur when the two hot-heads got into a heated argument.
The 'hate-hate' relationship is apparent when you read how Gambhir reacted to the former Pakistan captain off the field. Gauti lashed out at Afridi over his statement that Indians were not large-hearted like the Pakistanis.
Reacting to Gambhir's remarks, Afridi said: "I think they were very stupid comments by Gautam Gambhir. I was not expecting this from Gautam. This is all politics, what do you know about who carried out the Mumbai attacks?"
Afridi's comments came after Gambhir dedicated the World Cup win to the victims of Mumbai's 26/11 terror attacks, which were carried out by Pakistani nationals.
"It looks like Afridi is behaving still in the same manner when he debuted at the age of 16 in international cricket. He is still immature. It was my personal wish to pay tributes to the 26/11 victims," Gambhir was quoted as saying by the media.
On his verbal skirmish with Afridi during a Test match in 2007 that led to one-match ban, Gambhir said: "I now realise that I should not have lost my temper on small issues. It was a personal thing. He had hurled abuses at me, which I do not want to mention here."
Gambhir said that all Pakistani cricketers have a habit of making loud comments during play. "Not only Kamran (Akmal), but most of the Pakistanis have this habit of (over) appealing. Most of the wicketkeepers are unlike Kamran. Dhoni never shouts while keeping the wickets," he said.
